Why Goats? Why Now?
We'll be honest, Maclellan Island is an overgrown mess. It's hard to manage invasive species like English Ivy, but it's even harder when those plants are on an island and your organization doesn't own a boat. For years we've relied on kind souls (shoutout to Randy Whorton from Wild Trails!) and volunteers to help us pull up the pesky plants, but with an island that is 20+ acres, it just isn't sustainable and it doesn't work long-term.
We tried to do a prescribed burn on Maclellan Island and it didn't take off like we had hoped. You can read more about that here--https://newschannel9.com/news/local/burning-questions-why-did-the-controlled-burn-on-maclellan-island-fizzle-out-invasive-species-ecological-nature-preserve-chattanooga#
Here's the new plan. We're going to use the natural grazing tendencies of goats to clear out the English Ivy, the Mungo Grass, the Poison Ivy, and all the other pesky plants. Will they end up eating some native plants? Probably. But those native species don't stand a chance if we don't remove the things choking them out. It's not a permanent solution, but it will allow us to more easily manage the land in the future. This is just the first step in an extensive land management plan for Maclellan Island. |
Ways to Visit the Goats
Chattanooga River Boats will be taking folks on a tour to visit the island and see the goats! They are also graciously donating a portion of their proceeds to Chattanooga Audubon Society, so you're doing good while having fun! These fun goat boat tours will be happening most Saturdays and can be booked here.
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Want a hands-on experience? As part of our ongoing fundraiser, donors who contribute at a certain tier can come with us to Maclellan Island, go inside the goat enclosure, interact with the goats and feed them treats. You can donate here.
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Volunteer to check on the goats! After completing a training at our main property, Audubon Acres, folks can choose days to paddle out to Maclellan Island on their own watercraft. Once on the island, we have a couple things we ask you to do. If you have questions or would like to attend one of our volunteer trainings email [email protected]
Learn More About the Goats!
GOAT FUNDRAISER FAQS:
❓What happens if it floods? The likelihood of the island completely flooding over is tiny. If there is even a chance that we get so much rain that it endangers the goats, we will take the goats off the island and back to the mainland. ❓$5,000 is way too much money to spend on a camping trip with goats It’s no small chunk of change. We know that not everyone will be able to afford that and we've added a "camping lottery" option, which allows folks to enter for a chance to camp on the island. We’re a non-profit who receives no government funding and we protect over 500 acres of wilderness in Hamilton County and we rely on donations to help us do so. ❓If I buy the XYZ tier, do I get the lower tiers as well? You sure do! ❓Who is going to take care of the goats? Are they going to be protected? We have volunteers, staff, and our shepherd who will make sure that the goats are safe and healthy at all times. We will be closely monitoring them and limiting the number of folks who have access to the goats. ❓How long will the goats be there? TBD! ❓Can I come see the goats? For the safety of the goats we are limiting the number of people who have access to the goats. The island will be closed to the public for the entirety of the goats stay. The only exceptions are the guided tours we will provide and the lucky folks who get to camp. ❓This is a scam! They're just taking your money! Nope, not a scam. Just a conservation organization trying to raise some money and save the world. ❓I want to help with this! I can't donate, but I have time/experience. We would love all the help we can get! Please email us at [email protected]. |
There are several reasons why goats make the most sense for the land management and conservation of Maclellan.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, you can email [email protected] or call us at 423-892-1499